29-year-old architect gets let go and brought back as a contractor, then former boss demands all her design files: 'I refused, saying those were my intellectual property'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Oct 15, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

This young architect was clearly getting manipulated by her now former boss.

Not only did she just endure layoffs from her job, but when she was asked to come back to the firm as a contractor, her now ex-boss had the audacity to demand all her designs from her. That meant work that she did not create while under contract as a full-time employee. 

Thankfully, despite being several years younger than her employer, she knew that this was her own intellectual property. She understood her own rights as a freelance contractor and knew exactly what she signed up for in her contract, which was primarily to finish a few existing projects from when she was working at the firm full-time. 

The fact that her boss wanted to claim more of her designs as her own says everything about her own talents, her lack of an ethical backbone, and her sense of desperation as a leader. Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from several members of this online community.

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  • A female architect in a hard hat working on a floor.
    via Unsplash+ (Pablo Merchán Montes)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • While nobody could have predicted that this author would be roped into such a mess after being asked back in a freelance capacity, it does at the very least say something about the importance of being cautious when working for someone again after they did you wrong the first time around!

  • "[Am I wrong] for refusing to share my work files after being l*** off and rehired as a 'contractor?'"

    I (29F) worked for a small architecture firm for 4 years. I handled client proposals, design drafts, and managed several long-term projects. Two months
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • ago, the company announced "restructuring" and I was laid off. It sucked, but I got severance and started freelancing.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • Last week, my old boss called asking if I'd consider coming back but as a contractor, not an employee. I agreed short-term, just to finish the projects I had started.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • Here's where it gets weird: they asked me to hand over all my design files from the past year, including projects I did while I was freelancing, since "they were
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • based on ideas developed during employment." Those freelance projects have different clients and were done after my layoff.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • I refused, saying those were my intellectual property. My old boss accused me of being "vindictive" and said I was "holding company work hostage." But the truth is, I only used my own drafts and skills, not their resources or clients.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • Now they're threatening not to renew my contract and saying I'll "burn bridges" in the industry. My boyfriend thinks I should just
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • hand them over to keep peace, but it feels like they're taking advantage. AITA for refusing to share my files?
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • A female architect holds a hard hat while looking over plans.
    via Unsplash+ (Pablo Merchán Montes)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • ner... Your BF is an idiot. NTA. Tell them if they are accusing you of stealing that you'll sue them for defamation, so they better watch WTF they say because you don't respond to threats.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • ETA -to be clear, I'm referring to your freelancing work, which is clearly legally yours. ETA typo
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • LostBab3s4490. NTA. They don't own your work after you were laid off. Period. Once they ended your employment and paid severance, that was the end of your obligation to them.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • Anything you created after that point especially for different clients and using your own time and tools belongs entirely to you.
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • ACM915. NTA but whatever you do, don't handover those files they will use them for future products. You will not get reimbursed for that and they
    via Odd-Sea6299
  • will let go of you immediately or terminate your so-called contract. The only reason they offered you a contract was to get a hold of your intellectual property so again don't give it to them.
    via Odd-Sea6299

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Tags

intellectual property employment issues employee toxic-workplace layoffs Horrible Bosses contractor employment
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